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16 April 2014

EDF opens two electricity generation sites in the UK

16 April 2014 - EDF has officially opened West Burton gas power station and Teesside Offshore Wind Farm demonstrating its commitment to meet Britain’s energy needs. Both projects are examples of the company’s investment in the diverse energy mix needed to give the UK the reliable, secure, low carbon electricity it needs for the future.

EDF Energy Renewables’ Teesside Offshore Wind Farm near Redcar is the first offshore windfarm where the development, engineering and construction have been entirely led by EDF Group companies. Its 27 turbines can produce 62MW of electricity, enough to supply all the homes in Redcar, Marske and Saltburn. EDF Energy Renewables operates wind turbines with a capacity of 462MW and has 1,500MW of projects in development.

The power station at West Burton in Nottinghamshire is EDF Group’s largest single capital investment project in the UK so far and has a capacity of 1,300 MW, enough electricity to supply 1.5m homes. West Burton gas power station is designed to be an integral part of a balanced energy mix, which can flexibly generate electricity when needed, in conjunction with low carbon energy generation like nuclear power and renewables. To contribute to this mix, EDF Energy has invested around £3.5bn in the UK over the past three years.

Minister for Energy Michael Fallon MP said: “Opening two new energy generating projects is proof that the UK is a strong focus for new energy investment, and the best place in the world to invest in offshore wind. These projects will create hundreds of local jobs in the North East and Nottinghamshire, boosting long-term growth. The home-grown energy they produce will also help to reduce our reliance on expensive imports.”

Chairman and CEO of EDF Group Henri Proglio said: “EDF is a major investor in the UK. Teesside and West Burton are examples of the scale and diversity of our commitment to Britain, our second largest market after France. Meanwhile the European Commission is continuing its process to examine plans for the first new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. These projects, alongside our other plans, demonstrate our long term commitment to investing in new, low carbon electricity generation in the UK, and contributing to a diverse energy mix.”

Today’s openings bolster EDF Energy’s presence in both the North East and Nottinghamshire. In the North East Hartlepool nuclear power station employs more than 600 people and the customer contact centre at Doxford Park in Sunderland employs 1,700 staff. In Nottinghamshire, West Burton CCGT is adjacent to the West Burton A coal fired power station and close to the Cottam coal power station. Both are operated by EDF Energy and together they employ more than 500 people.

EDF Group, one of the leaders in the European energy market, is an integrated energy company active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading. The Group generated consolidated sales of €75.6 billion in 2013, of which 46.8% outside of France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchangeand is a member of the CAC 40 index.